The Department of Landscape Architecture, in collaboration with the Iowa Chapter of the American Society of Landscape Architects, is hosting a viewing of “Sitting Still,” a 90-minute documentary that features preeminent landscape architect Laurie Olin — one of the world’s most influential urban designers — and his profoundly social vision.
Olin’s life story of growing up in Alaska on the edge of the American frontier, challenging belief systems around designing in nature, and his lifelong work transforming environments for social good are the launching pad for “Sitting Still.” Part portrait of the artist and part exploration of social concerns, the film looks at the critical importance of humanity in design in order to create more livable cities. Olin and other design visionaries — including Frank Gehry, Billie Tsien, and Walter Hood, among others — bring into sharp focus the marks we make upon the land and why they matter.